Forbes recognized Ipek Bakir, class of 2012, as one of two "rising stars" of the education-focused Overdeck Family Foundation. Through working as a program analyst for the Innovative School portfolio, she has helped award more than $5 million in grants to 200-plus schools.

She studied political science and urban studies at Connecticut College before earning her master's degree in economics and education from Teachers College Columbia University, and co-founding the nonprofit Technology for Education Consortium.

The other two alumni, James Finucane and Daniel Shoukimas, are two of the three people Forbes recognized for co-founding the startup mPharma. Headquartered in Ghana and with $12 million in funding, mPharma manages inventory for mom-and-pop pharmacies in Africa.

Finucane majored in math while Shoukimas studied art history; both graduated in 2013.

Three Connecticut College alumni were also named to the list last year: Jazmine Hughes, Aditi Juneja and Emily Callahan.

The 30 Under 30 list includes 30 people in each of 20 industries, such as science, retail and commerce, sports, food and drink, and music. Forbes said it received more than 15,000 online submissions for the 600 slots.

To create the list, the magazine collaborated with expert judges across disciplines.